The First Grader [DVD]

Insofar as it plumps for a "heart-warming and inspiring" general vibe (and it does: it's even in the production notes), Justin Chadwick's new film The First Grader certainly gives itself a fighting chance. Well, how many cockle-warming boxes can you check: illiterate octogenarian; overflowing rural Kenyan primary school; the massive, rolling expanses of the Kenyan bush; the accompaniment of African music and a dazzling, wholesome heroine to beam at the screen whenever things start to lag a bit.

Chadwick makes the most of these facilities, available to him in abundance, and why not: there are several scenes where unbearably cute little children buzz happily around the sombre silhouette of a elderly figure, and it is impossible not to be gladdened, whatever the context. Kimani Maruge, the titular first grader, even wears a child's school uniform - including shorts and socks - and gamely wrestles with cat, sat and mat by day and in the night retreats to a darkened shed, and stares into the distant darkness with ancient, sad eyes.

Before long we are let into the secret of those sad eyes.

As of course it must be, while based on a true story this account is heavily fictionalised: only that nod to verisimilitude gave any licence to make a film which would otherwise be too cheesy to survive the pitch. No doubt in a number of ways the real story would have made for inconvenient narrative: I doubt, for example, Maruge actually marched into the Kenyan education minister's office and ripped his shirt off.

While Chadwick is never ambitious with his film - he knows what his assets are, flaunts them, and doesn't try any funny stuff - he is nonetheless challengingly political. In its back-story First Grader is by no means saccharine: Maruge was a Mau Mau resistance fighter in the fifties, was imprisoned for the best part of a decade and, as the screenplay unfolds, we find out it is this history which compels him to seek his education. The film repeatedly flashes back to the resistance, and the flashes don't compromise. There's some pretty brutal viewing in there. Now, all Maruge has is a letter. And he can't read it. Hence the story.

The Mau Mau's plight at the hands of the British colonials is at the top of the news agenda at the moment, so Justin Chadwick couldn't have timed it better in terms of profile; on the other hand I suspect he may have romanticised the struggle somewhat (the Mau Mau are portrayed more or less as hapless victims; the British as torturing fascists), and this may lead to some charges of revisionism that he might otherwise have avoided had his story not had the same currency.

There are a couple of missteps: in an attempt to force the narrative, the screenplay calls for some anonymous antagonism (crank calls and threats of various sorts) which don't appear plausible since all that is going on is an old fellow showing up at a rural primary school for some reading lessons. Some of the parents at the school display a positively North London sensibility when it comes to their furthering their children's education at all costs: this didn't really ring true either (simply put, no peasant farmer could be quite that neurotic) yet this antagonism is allowed to build seemingly to boiling point, at which point it just dies off without resolution.

This review couldn't pass without mention of Naomie Harris, who is simply radiant whenever on the screen, and completely occupied the character of the principled teacher who takes Maruge in regardless of the firestorm it improbably provokes. Harris could have been reading the back of a cereal packet and I'd enjoy it: it's hard not to like a film when there is such a natural sparkling beauty in it. Expect to see more of this young lady in the next few years.

The First Grader sets itself an unambitious target and, with such prime quality raw material, gets home easily. Those of a delicate sensibility go in forewarned, though; some of the scenes from the Mau Mau uprising are more disturbing than you commonly see in a "heart warming and inspiring film"

Olly Buxton

Justin Chadwick's film is a well intentioned and honorable effort to bring the story of Kenyan villager Kimani Maruge to the big screen. Maruge made international news in 2003 when at the age of 84 he made the Guinness book of records for becoming the oldest person ever to enrol in an infants school. He had taken his governments slogan of 'education for all' quite literally. It is certainly an uplifting 'the pen is mightier than the sword' true story, and highlights how important education is to many third world countries where young students happily walk many miles to attend school each day. Maruge gained such status that he even visited the United Nations, and you can see the man himself in a very short film in the special features. He died in 2009 aged 89 years. His indomitable spirit and determination to seek fairness is at the heart of the film.

The film is anchored by two very fine performances from the lead players. English actress Naomie Harris deservedly had glowing praise from critics for her performance. Her accent passes muster and she brings the correct gravitas to her performance, but she is eclipsed by little known Kenyan born Oliver Litondo who gives an immensely powerful performance in the lead role. Without his performance the film would have no cement to hold the whole structure together, which creaks a little as it is. Litondo brings a humility to the role that Maruge himself would surely have approved of. What he might not have approved of is the films moments of implausible Hollywood style melodrama. The films closing scenes show this at its worst! Whilst the classroom scenes are a delight, the flashbacks to Maruge's Mau Mau past are a bit overcooked. Perhaps a more subdued approach to past colonial wrongs would have served better, and had more dramatic impact. Overlooking this it is not a bad film. It takes a while to get going but tells a worthy story, which is well filmed and well acted. Worth a watch.

I just this film on the 29th October 2010 at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival.

I think this is the first time that I can say that a film has had a profound affect upon me. It's a fantastic story, and what makes it all the more amazing, as confirmed by Justin Chadwick at the festival, everything you see in the film is true and actually happened.

I am not ashamed to admit that I was moved to tears, and these were not tears of joy. Emotionally, this is a heavyweight amongst films.

The film also left me not being very proud to be British. It covers, in flash back, a part of our history that I am sure most of my fellow countrymen would wish had never happened.

I would strongly recommend that every Britain and every Kenyan watches this film. It will move them all to tears, and teach us all lessons we should not forget for the future.

If you do go to watch it, take plenty of handkerchiefs. You'll need them!